Search for missing man called off

9:14am Friday 9th May 2008

THE search for a Taunton man whose plane crashed off Brazil has been called off.

Wreckage from the Cessna plane in which Nigel Hodges, 52, and three other Britons were travelling, was washed up off the north-east coast of the South American country.

A huge search and rescue operation was mounted involving a helicopter, two planes and a naval vessel, a Foreign Office spokemsan said.

"The Brazilian authorities have now called off the search after five days," he added.

"They have found no further wreckage and no bodies and the families in Brazil and England have been informed."

Mr Hodges, a member of Taunton Vale Rotary Club, was in the plane when it went down on its way to Ilheus last Friday.

The finance director with Lifestyle Holdings, which has its registered office in Taunton, he was in Brazil checking out a property development opportunity.

His wife, Maureen, and son Elliot are currently in Brazil awaiting news.